Sales-indicating mechanism



May 13, l 1930.

Gqw.. os-Bo'RNE SALES INDICATING MECHANI'SM Filed May 4, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l Hf V472/ INVENTOR. l am ya a @law ya/M Ma1y13, 1930. G. w. osBoRNE 1,758,330

SALES INDICATING MEGHANISM Filed May 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 y iq l// a /46 Pfg/[33 .if 2

a' am y fra ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES.

PATENT ,y oFFIoEV- GEORGEJ-W. OSBORNE, lOIEVBTOBJJH KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 'Y snrnsfmnrcn'rme MEoHANrsi/i i Appliatioxiamenait,1929. serial No. 360,477. Y

invention relates to improvements nected therewith, afcoin operatively engagsales indicating mechanisms, Y

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel indicating mechanism of the kind described, which, when a purchaser deposits a coin therein 4and manually actuates the mechanism, will render active a signalling device, which will continueactive until an attendant operates the mechanism to'reset 10 it in its initial condition.' u A further object of myfinvention is the provision Vof novel coin actuated Aelectrical switch mechanismarranged to lbe actuated by a purchaser so as to render active an elec- .15 trical signalling device by closing the switch, the signalling device remaining active until an attendant opens the switch.`

` Still another object 'of `my invention is novel means by which a register is `actuated 20 simultaneously with the closing ofthe switch for registering the depositing of the coin in the apparatus. j

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel indicating mechanism `which is -25 simple, cheapto make, durable, not 'likely to get out of order, which is easily operated and which is eicient in its operation. Y The novel features of my invention vare hereinafter fully describedand claimed.

illustrate'the preferred embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of an apparatus embodying my improved indicating mechanism. f

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, partly broken away, showing one of the switch and coin receiving boxes, with no coin therein, and 9 with the switch in the open position.

. Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 3 3 of Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2, with the switch closed and a coin operatively engag- 45 ingF the switch operating member.

' 5 is a section on the line5-.5 of Fig. 11, no coin being in the chute. i Fig. 6-is an enlarged view, partly broken away, partly in vertical section and partlyy in side elevation, V.of one of the switches 50 shown in the closed position and parts con- 'In .the accompanying l drawings, which ing the switch lever. l

Fig. 7 .is'afra mental view of someof the y parts shown in ig. 6, showing theswitch4 lever in the openl position and engagingpa coinand the coin pushingmemberdisengaged from the coin, a second coin being rshown supported in the coin chute by the coin operated lever; v. 1' l' Fig. 8 is a'view similar to Fig. 7 ,the switch lever 'being shown forced by the push member t and a coin tothe closed position, a second coin being shown supported in the chuteby an arm carried bythe switch lever. I

Fig. 9 is a reduced top iew of loneof the boxes, the top being removed, and a portion of the box supporting table.-

vFig. 10 isan enlarged section. on the line 10,-10`of Fig. 9, the switch being shown open.

rFig. 11, is anenlarged view taken on the. plane of the line 11-11 of Fig. 10 showing partly in elevation and partlyl ,in vertical section part of one of the switch' mechanisms and parts connected therewith,'partsbeing broken away, and the switch lever shown in the open position. v i. 1

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the same parts as disposed inFig. 7, theupper coin being omitted. Y .j Y

Fig. 13 is 'aV reduced front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig.v 1.v

.Fig 14 is fa diagrammatic' view of the electric circuit which includes the Aswitches "and signalling devices.

Similar reference? characters designate' similar parts in thedifferentviews. 1 designates a table top havinga Vplurality .of openings through which respectively extendthe bodies 2 of boxes, the'tops 3 'of which rest on the top of the table top, each box `top at one side of the body 2 Vhaving an observation opening Lifcoviered vby a transparent glass'plate 5. v y

The bottom of each'box 2 has a lateral shelf extension 6. Said shelf extensions respec- 9 tively support electrical signalling ydevices consisting of electric lamps 7, Fig. 13, which are respectively disposed so as to project light through'the observation openings 4.

Below the borozntal plane of the' shelves 6 is a coin receiving box 8, having at one end a closure 9 covering an opening'in the'end of the box through which coins therein may be removed. l y

Two inclined chutes 10 discharge into the box 8 at opposite sides thereof. Vertical coin chutes 11 have their upper endsl extendo with coin receiving slots 12', 'and with 'ob-v servation slots 13 through which may readingsV of registers thereunder.l j Y Thehox tops 3' .are alsoy respectively provided with slots-14 `through which respecvtively extend manually operated leviersl, with which, afterthe ldeposit of 'coins in the slots ll2,therpiuchasers operate a plurality of electricall switches andregisters which Iare respectively contained in the boxes 2. As the switches,coin actuated mechanisms and registers are all-alike, fav description of ,the mechanismscontained .in one ofthe boxes 2 will suffice for each..v l, n i' Y Each of the boxes 2-'cont`a'insa vertical coin chute 16 whichy has'l its upper en'd communieating with the adjacentcoinslot12, and which at its lower vend isprovided with a seatl?, on which a coinAis =adapted to-refst, Figs and 12.` l i n Y n each box 2-there isl a switch mechanism Y having an oscillativeoperating member comfpIjlSllig, preferably, a lever havingv Va .downwardlyY extendinggarmlS, adapted when the 4switch is open tohaye the two fingers 19, with whichuit is proyided Vat its lower end, Figs.l

3, '7" and 12, disposed in front of andhold ,the coin A ,the seat-,17. Said switch lever yis pivotally iinounted on yahorizontal pin 2O which issup'ported by two ears 21, which extend laterally from the lchute `16,` Figs. 2 and 3. .Y Y

The switch lever is provided with a laterally extending Aarm 22 of insulating material fastened at vone end to the arm 18, andcarryingadjacentgto its other endfaKA conductive contact member'23, whichis adapted, when the switch arm 22 is swung tothe closedA positi'on, shown in Figs4 and 6, tobe; between and have electrical contact with two Contact springs 24 and 25, which are in circuit in series with vone ofthe lamps 7, and which are disposed in circuit in multiple with the other spring contacts 24V and 25- of, the other switches. Y

For normally forcingtl'ie switch farm, 22

Y tothe open position, show-n in Fig., 11,'said arm has'. attachedV to it one end of a Vcoil springv 26, the other end oflwhichl isattached to a' pin '27,'V mounted on aprojection 28 extending. ,frpm Ques'de ,Walloffhe box 2.

For forcing the lever so as to swing the arm 22 to and in contact with the spring contacts 24 and 25 to close the switch, there'is horizontally slidable in guides 29 on the coin chute 16, a manually operable push member 30, having a transverse pin 31 disposed in an end slot 32 in the lower end of the adjacent lever 15, which is pivoted on a horizontal axis in a post 33, which extends from the adjacent wall of the box 2. Y coil spring 34 has one. end attached to the lever 15 below the post 33, the other end ofthe 'Spring'being fastened to a pin 35 mounted onthe box 2. The spring 34 normally swings the lever 15 to the position .shown Figs. 12 and v11, thereby `normally reti-acting the push membery 3.0, to 1the position shown in Figs. 7, 11 and 12, in which position it is outoffthepath of a'coin descending thechute 16. to the seat 17;.Y

To hold the contact .member 23 between vvand'in Contact with the spring contacts 24 25A against the pull of the spring 26, until anattendant releases `the switch lever, as will be describedfthereiis provided a detent comprising v a member 36 pivotally `mounted on the pin 27 mounted in the. projeetion 28 on the wall of thebox 2. i A spring 39 coiled around the pin 27 has one end bear.-

i'ng against the wallof the box 2, and the other endbears-against the detent 36, andv normally' forces it -to the .position shown in Fig. 6, in whichpositionzit engages the lower side ofthe arm-22 andholds the latter Vin the closed position., When the -detent 3 6 is swung tothe positionshown inFig; 10, the

spring 26 swings the arm 22 tothe open position, shown in Figs. lOand 11. Y

1 For simultaneously.swinging the detents 3.6, whichy are holding'the 1'arms 22 ofthe switch leversli-nthefdifferent boxes 2 to the position 'shownin Fig.v 10,jin which the arms 2v2 are-released from the detents 36 andrest respectively'in vnotches. 40 lprovided vone in ,each detent 36 thereisprovided a horizontal releasing har; '41, Figs., 10 and'13, which ex'- vtends transversely through holes provided thereforin thesides ofthe boxes 2,'and isslid in one direction by` means ofa coil spring 42 attached 'at one end to one 'end ofthe bar 41 andat the other endV to a pin 43 mounted on the left shelf extension 6, asviewed'iii Fig.`,13.

Theben-411 has'in it in each box 2 a longitudinal slot 44, Fig.v 10, through which ex-V tends a 45. carriedbythe ,adjacenty de,-y

tent.36..i ,y Y* l v Whenthe right end of the har 41, as viewed in Figs. 10 and 13, islpnlled .byan attendant" i to the extremeright endfof its,movement,fit

will. engage the pins45, of such detente 36as are in the switch armfholdingpositiom shown in Fig. 4 andwill swing thedetents to therelease position shownin Fig.,10,fupon which the farm` 22 will beQswung downwardly by the serine 26?' #wie Positieshewa Yit @ist ,159

and in Fig. 11, in which position the arms 22 being in the notches of the detents 36, thus Y holding the latter from being pulled by the springs 39 from swinging the detents to the' arm holding positions, shown'in Figs. V4

Y and 6.

Respectively mounted in the boxes 2 Vare suitable registers 46, Figs. 2,4 and 9, which are supported by the tops of the boxes 2, and are disposed so that their numbered wheels 47, Fig. 9, are visible through the observation slots 13. Each register has an oscillative operating lever 48, which is engaged by` an when a coinA is resting on the seat 17 Fig.

7, there is pivoted between two ears 51 on'the chute 16, on a horizontall pin 52, alever having a downwardly extending arm 53 having an angular proj ection 54 which is normally held i by gravity, when no coin is in the chute, in the path of a coin passing to the chute seat 17, as'

Y shownin Figs. 6 and 11.

The said coin actuated lever has an arm 55 which extends upwardlyand which has a lateral extension 56, which is normally held out of the chute 16, but which, when a coin Aiis passing to the seat 17 and engages the projection 54, passes through a slot 57 in the chute 16, as shown in Fig. 12. Whenin this position, the extension 56 of the armr55 of the lever will engage and stop the downward movement of a coin which maybe inadvert-- ently inserted in the slot, as shown in Fig. 7.

' The push member 30 has a vertical end slot 58 through which the arm 53 of the coin actuated lever passes, so that the reciprocation of the push member 30 has no effect on the said lever, further than, when` the push member 30 is forced against the coin A, Fig.l 8, and causes thecoin A to force to the left the switch lever arm 22 to the switch closing position, Figs. 6 and 8, the coin actuated lever will swing by gravity from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8, in which latter position, the arm extension 56 will pass out of the chute passage, andthe coin B will drop to the position shown in Fig. 8, in which position it rests on a coin supporting wire`58 fastened to the arm 49, which wire 58V', when the switch lever is in the open position, Fig. 7, is out of the chute passage, but which, when the switch lever closes, enters the chute passage, through a slot 59, Fig.8.V f

When the switch lever arm 22 is retracted to the open positionyFig. 12, the wire v58 will be withdrawn from the chute passage, thus permitting the coin B, which has rested thereon, to pass to the seat 17 to the position occupied by the coin A in Fig.' 12.

As shown in Fig. 14, the spring contacts 24 are respectively connected by conductors 6() with a positive conductor V61'which is con'- nected to one terminal of an electric generator .62, the other terminal ofwhich is connected to a negative conductor'63.y yConductors 64 respectivelyV connect the Contact `springs 25 with one set of terminals of the electric signal lamps 7, the other terminals of whichare ref spectively connected by conductors 465gto the negative conductor 63. Y

When the switch lever of any of the switches is closed and the contact'member 23 of the switch is engaged with the spring contacts 24 and25 of said switch, the current from the generator 62 will pass through the conductor 61, conductor of the closedV switch, spring contact 24, contact member 23, spring contact 25, adjacent conductor 64,V

adjacent lamp 7, adjacent conductor 65 and conductor 63 tothe generatorl 62, thereby lighting the lamp 7 of the set having the closed switch, and the light from said lighted lamp 7 will be proj ected through the observa tion opening4 adjacent to said lamp, lthus indicating tothe attendant the chute16into which a coin has been deposited. i

When the attendant pulls the bar 41 to the clearing position at the eXtreme right, Figs.

10 and 13, the detents 36 will be operated to release the switch arms 22 which have been held closed, and the conductive membersI 23 which have beenin contact with the adjacent kContact springs24 and 25 will be withdrawn therefrom, thereby opening f the switches which havevbeen closed.

In the general operation of the apparatus. ka purchaser inserts af coin kthrough one of the slots 12. The lcoin passes into the adjacent chute 16 to the seat 17. The purchaser swings the adjacent lever 15 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the position shown in'Figs. 4, 6 and 8, thereby movingthe kadjacent push bar30 so that it will engage the coin A that is resting against the lingers 19 of the lever arm 18 of the switch. The space between the ngers 19 is wide enough to permit the passage therebetween of the push member 30, so that if no coin is inserted and the lever 15is operated, the switch will not be opened. The coin A`, however when on 'the seat-17 rests against the lingers 19, so that, vwhen the push member 30 is moved to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, thevswitch lever will Vvbe swung to the closed position,

in which position it will be held by the adj a-V which the springs 49 will retract the detents 36 to their initial holding positions, Fig. 6,

when the switch levers are Vagain closed.'

When the attendant releases/the bar 41, it

- will assume the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 10. When the purchaser releases the lever 15, the adjacent spring 34 will retract the lever and the push member 30.

. When the push member is retracted, the coin A, which has been pushed from the seat 7 tothe position shown in] Fig. 6, being over the :adjacent chute 11, will be released, as the adjacent detent will hold up'the arm 22 in the closed position. The coin will drop into the chute 1l adjacent thereto, and thence in to the receiving box 8 throughv the'adjacent chute 10. l

l/Vith the mechanism hereinbefore described, the attendant is notified, by the lighting of the lamps, into which boxes purchasers have dropped coins, andthe indication continues until the attendantpulls the clearing bar 41,.. The registers 46 show the number of coins whichhave been Vdeposited in the several boxes. V

I do not limit myinvention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scopej of `the appended claims, maybe made without departing fromv the spirit of my invention.

1. Ina sales indicating mechanism having a coin supporting seat and a manually operable push member for forcing a coin from said seat, thecombination` withan electrical signalling device, of a switch in circuit inV series with said device and having an operating member out of the path of said push member and in the pathof and `arranged to bemoved to the closed position by a coin as it is being forced from said seat by said push member, means for normally,y Vforcing said 4operating member to `the .open position, a detent arranged to engage and hold said operating memberin the closed position and arranged to be heldby the operating member, when the latter is in `the open position, from moving to the holding position,.means for normally' forcing said detent to the holding position, and Vmanually-operated means lfor moving said detentk from the holding position. I v Y 2. In a sales indicating mechanism having. coinsupporting seats and manually operable push membersfor respectivelyforcing coins from said seats, .thecombination withelectrical signalling devices in circuit in multipleY with each other, of switches respectively in circuit in series with said devices' and provided respectively with operating membersV out of the paths respectively of said push members and-respectively in the paths of and arranged to be respectively moved to` the closedpositions by coins'forced from said seats by said pushmembers respectively, means-for normally forcing said operating members to the open positions, detentsarranged rtorrespectively engage and hold said Voperating members in the closed positions,

and respectively arranged to beheld by said operating members, when,k the latter are in the open'position,-from`moving to the holding positions, means for normally forcing said detents to the holding positions, and manually operated-means for simultaneously engaging those detents whichare in the holding positions and forcing them from the holding positions. i

3., In a sales indicating mechanism having i a coin` supporting seat and a manually operable member for pushing a coin from said seat, vthe Y combination ,with an electrical signalling device, of a switch in circuit in series with said device and having an operating member out of the path of said push member and in the path of and arranged to be moved to the closed position by a coin as it is forced lfrom said seat by said push member, means for normally forcing said operating vmember to the openV position, a detent arranged to engageand hold said operating member inthe closed position and arranged forcing said detent to the holdingposition, and a manually operated reciprocative member having a lost motion connection with said v the coin is pushed from said seat by said n' push member, means for normally swinging said lever to the open position, a detent arranged to'engage and hold said lever in the closedposition and arranged to be held by said lever,'when the-latter is in the open position, `from moving to the holding position, means for normallyforcing lsaid detent to the holding position, and a manually operable reciprocative Vmember having a lost motion connection with said detent and arranged, when moved in one direction,-to force said detentfromY the holding position.

5. Inl a'sales indicating mechanism having coin supporting seats and manually operable push members for respectively forcing coins from said seats, the combination with electrical signalling, device's.v in circuitin multiple with. each othenof switches respecto be held Vby the operating member, when the I latter is in the open position, from moving to the holding position,-means for normally l tively in circuit in series with said switches to the holding positions, means for normally,V

swinging said detents'to the holding positions, and a reciprocative manually operated member arranged, when moved in one direction, to engage and simultaneously move said detents which are in the holding positions from said holding positions. i

6. In a sales indicating mechanism having coin supporting seats and manually operable push members for forcing coinsv from said seats respectively, the combination with electrical signalling devices in circuit `in multiple with each other, of switches respectively in circuit in series with said devices and in multiple with each other and respectively provided with operating members out of the paths respectively of said push members and respectively in the paths of and arranged to be respectively moved to the closed positions by coins forced from said seats by said push members, means for normally forcing said operating members to the open-positions, detents for engaging and holding said operating members in the closed positions and providedeach with a pin, means for normally forcing said detents to'v the holding positions, and a reciprocative bar having longitudinal slots receiving respectively said arranged to engage said pin so as to swing said detent from the holding position, and a signalling device in circuit in series with said switch. n i f 9. In a sales indicating mechanism, having Ya coin chute -provided with av coin supporting seat and having a manually operable push member for forcing coins fromisaid seat, the combination `with a switch having an operating memberout of the path ofL said push member and in the path of coins forced by said push memberV from said seat, means for normally forcing said operating member to the `open position, said operating member being adapted to be forced, by a coin forced from said seat bysaid push member, to the closed position, a stop member carried by said operating member and moved thereby into said chute so as'to hold a coin from passing said chute to said seat when the operating member is in the closed position, and a second stop member having two arms one above the other the Vlower one of which is normally disposed'in said chute and adapted `to be engaged by a coin and moved' to and held in a position thereby, when the coin is resting insaid seat, such that the upper arm will extend into said chute and holdj anf i other coin passing through said chute to said seat, said second stop member being automatically movable, when no coin is in said chute to a position in which the lower arm will extend into the chute and the upper arm `will be out of the path of coins passing through said chute.

In .testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification.

p GEORGE w. osBoRNE.

- pins for forcing said detents from the holdp ing positions. p 7. In a sales Vindicating y, mechanism, a

switch having'an operating member adapted to be manually movedto the closed position,

means for normally forcing said member tov lthe open pos1t1on,ia signalling device 1n circuit in series with said switch, a detent, means for moving said detent normally to a position in which it will engage and hold said member in the closed position, and manually operated means engaging said detent for moving said detent from the holding position.

8. In a sales indicating mechanism, a switch 

